Swan Hotel (Dana Street)

There was also a Swan Hotel in Carngham, Victoria.

Swan Hotel

Picture needed
History
Town	Ballarat
Street	Specimen Hill relocated to Cnr. Dana and Doveton Streets (1856)
Known dates	1856-1864
Google maps	-37.563569, 143.854158

The Swan Hotel was a hotel in Ballarat, <1856-1864>.

Site

The hotel was relocated to Dana Street after June 1856 from Specimen Hill (on Eureka Street):

The Swan Hotel, lately removed from Specimen-hill, invites the attention of families, and seeks the patronage of Dana-street.

In June 1858, the location was simply described as the township. The mining map of 1861 shows the hotel on the north west corner of Dana Street and Doveton Street. In 2015 this was the site of the Harris Scarfe store.Google Map Ref: -37.563569, 143.854158

Map

Loading map...

{"minzoom":false,"maxzoom":false,"mappingservice":"leaflet","width":"600px","height":"300px","centre":false,"title":"","label":"","icon":"","lines":[],"polygons":[],"circles":[],"rectangles":[],"copycoords":false,"static":false,"zoom":false,"defzoom":14,"layers":["OpenStreetMap"],"image layers":[],"overlays":[],"resizable":false,"fullscreen":false,"scrollwheelzoom":true,"cluster":false,"clustermaxzoom":20,"clusterzoomonclick":true,"clustermaxradius":80,"clusterspiderfy":true,"geojson":"","clicktarget":"","imageLayers":[],"locations":[{"text":"","title":"","link":"","lat":-37.563722222222225,"lon":143.85425,"icon":""}],"imageoverlays":null}

History

In January 1857 a man was charged with assaulting the government surveyor near the hotel. The case was dismissed on the grounds the assault occurred on private property where the surveyor had no authority:

Amos Parkins was charged with violent assault on Henry Smith, the surveyor, on the 16th instant...Henry Smith deposed that he was a mining surveyor, and was the surveyor appointed by the Government for the Golden Point, Gravel Pits, and Malakoff leads. Yesterday he went, in the execution of his duty, to measure off some ground hear the Swan Hotel, when the defandant violently assaulted him by striking him twice in the face...The claim of the defendant was near the Swan Hotel, near the National School. Prosecutor was assaulted outside the "Homeward Bound" claim...

The hotel was offered for sale in May 1857:

To Wine and Spirit Merchants, Capitalists, Speculators, Investment Societies, &c, &c. UNPARALLELED OPPORTUNITY ! Highly important to all parties wanting a good Business in a rapidly improving locality. SPLENDID HOTEL IN A COMMANDING SITUATION IN The Township of Ballarat West. W. C. SMITH is honored with instructions from the Proprietors to sell per private contract That well-established first-class house known throughout the district as The Swan Hotel, standing on a full Government corner allotment, having a frontage of 82 feet 6 inches to Dana-street, by 132 feet to Dawson-street; contains 25 rooms, 10 of which are bedrooms fitted up with great taste. The Bar, measuring 21 x 17 feet, is handsomely papered and fitted. There is an entrance hall opening from Dana-street, leading into private sitting rooms, with bedrooms attached ; and to a spacious dining-room. Adjoining Bar is a large and beautiful ball-room, constantly used for balls, concerts, public meetings, &c., &c. At the junction of the two streets is a Commercial Room, with fittings of the richest description. There is a store-room, kitchen; pantry, wash-house, stables, pig-styes, &c, &c. The Hotel, in fact, contains every requisite for carrying on its rapidly increasing business. The whole of the arrangements in this establishment are of the most superior kind. The Proprietors have always especially cultivated a business of the most respectable and permanent kind. The daily improving business they have got shows how well they have succeeded. W. C. S. would in conclusion remark, that he has no hesitation whatever in strongly recommending the above to the public, as the elevated and central situation the Hotel occupies, and being in one of the leading thoroughfares, surrounded as it is by several of the principal " Leads," it must always command a first-class business. Terms, very liberal. For cards to view this valuable property, and all further information, apply to W. C. SMITH, Auctioneer and Land Agent, Colonial Land Office, Sturt-street, Ballarat.

Community Involvement

Political

• Meeting to discuss the "One Mile Boundary" limit to business, June 1856. The hotel was still on the Eureka Lead.
• Municipal elections, candidates to answer questions, 9 January 1857.

The People

• In 1856 Spencer and Middleton are listed as publicans in the Geelong, Ballarat and Creswick's Creek Directory.
• In June 1857 the license was granted to John Spencer.
• In June 1858 Margaret Canavan had her application postponed.
  • It was granted one week later.
  • In May 1859 her license was renewed.
• In June 1864 the publican's license was granted to John B. Frewer.
  • It was renewed in July 1864.